Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALKUZEL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALKUZEL’, particularly characterized by having copper flowers with small light purple centers and red dotted lips, 1 to 2 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALKUZEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALKUZEL’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous attractive copper flowers with small light purple centers andred dotted lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALKUZEL’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in March 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, of theproprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘22286-02’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘22792-02’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in February 2011. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for todate. ‘PHALKUZEL’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywherein the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date ofthis application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, and can be usedto distinguish ‘PHALKUZEL’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Copper flowers with small light purple centers and red dotted        lips;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in August 2018. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALKUZEL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALKUZEL’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALKUZEL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALKUZEL’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in August 2018 onflowering plants which were planted in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots.After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12 centimeter (diameter)pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks,continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50-weeks in 12centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALKUZEL’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22286-02’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22792-02’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)            with branching lateral roots having diluting purple (RHS            N77A) and light green (RHS 146C) colored root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual            propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24            weeks. After transplantation into 12 cm pots, the plants are            finished after 48 to 50 weeks.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with            raceme inflorescence.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 39.0 cm to 44.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 30.0 cm to 32.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm            to 19.0 cm. Width: 8.5 cm to 9.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse to rounded            unequal. Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from            the horizontal position): Between 20 degrees and 35 degrees.            Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146B to 146C.            Lower surface: RHS 146D. Texture (upper surface): Slightly            rough. Thickness: 2.1 mm to 2.4 mm. Venation: Pattern:            Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A.            Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—4 to 10.        -   Length.—39.0 cm to 44.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.1 mm to 5.4 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146B) with a touch of brown (RHS 200B).        -   Internode length.—6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 120.0 mm to            150.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 73.0 mm to 78.0 mm. Diameter: 83.0 mm to            88.0 mm. Depth of lip: 24.0 mm to 25 0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 14 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm.            Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color:            Slightly green (RHS 146D) at the base; dark red (RHS 187B)            toward the tip.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from            base to tip): 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm. Width: 46.0 mm to 48.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color:            Yellow (RHS 9C). Over color: Slightly light purple (RHS 76B)            at the base and red shade (RHS 182B) toward the margin.            Lower surface: Basic color: Light yellow (RHS 9D). Over            color: Very light purple (RHS 76C) and dark pink shade (RHS            182C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded symmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (froth base to tip): 43.0 mm to            45.0 mm. Width: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Yellow (RHS 9B). Over            color: Very light purple (RHS 76B) at the base and red shade            (RHS 182B) toward the margin. Lower surface: Basic color:            Light yellow (RHS 160B). Over color: Dark pink shade (RHS            182C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 38.0 mm to            40.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Yellow (RHS 9C and            162C). Over color: Red spots (RHS 185A) at the base and red            shade (RHS 182B) toward margin. Lower surface: Basic color:            Yellow (RHS 160A). Over color: Dark pink shade (RHS 182C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 8.0            mm to 10.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Light purple (RHS 76A) at            the base, dotted (RHS 60A) with yellow tip (RHS 12A).            Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly            spatulate. Margin: Undulated. Length: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm.            Width: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Color: Slightly yellow (RHS 12A)            at the base; white (RHS NN155C) striped (RHS 183B); red (RHS            185A) toward one margin and red-purple (RHS N78B) toward            tip.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Rhombic. Margin: Entire. Length: 18.0 mm            to 20.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color: Yellow (RHS            13A) at the base and along the midvein; red (RHS 185A)            toward wings; dotted (RHS 184C).        -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.            Length: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:            Yellow (RHS 13A) dotted (RHS 183B).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 5.0 mm to            5.3 mm. Color: Light purple (RHS 76A).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 23A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.2 mm to 2.4 mm.            Color: Light green (RHS 145C) and very light purple (RHS            76C) towards the flower.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to            2.7 mm. Color: Green (RHS 146C) at the base; light green            (RHS 145C) and very light purple (RHS 76C) toward the            flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis to date.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALKUZEL’ differs from female parent plant ‘22286-02’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALKUZEL’ has a main flower color of yellow and a main apicallobe color of red, whereas ‘22286-02’ has a main flower color ofgreenish-yellow and a main apical lobe color of yellow. Additionally,‘PHALKUZEL’ has larger flowers than ‘22286-02’.

‘PHALKUZEL’ differs from male parent plant ‘22792-02’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALKUZEL’ has a main flower color of yellow, whereas ‘22792-02’has a main flower color of reddish-purple. Additionally, ‘PHALKUZEL’ hassmaller flowers than ‘22792-02’.

‘PHALKUZEL’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALDIQYK’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,342) and ‘PHALIFQUDI’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 26,831). ‘PHALKUZEL’ differs from the commercial variety‘PHALDIQYK’ in that ‘PHALKUZEL’ has obtuse to rounded unequal leafapexes, whereas ‘PHALDIQYK’ has unequal mucronate leaf apexes.Additionally, ‘PHALKUZEL’ has smaller flowers and wider leaves than‘PHALDIQYK’.

‘PHALKUZEL’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALIFQUDI’ in that‘PHALKUZEL’ has weakly spatulate lateral lobes and obtuse to roundedunequal leaf apexes, whereas ‘PHALIFQUDI’ has spatulate lateral lobesand unequal mucronate leaf apexes. Additionally, ‘PHALKUZEL’ has largerflowers and wider dorsal sepals than ‘PHALIFQUDI’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALKUZEL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.